Heather Thompson
June 2021
Heather J
Thompson
,
BSN, RN
Home Based Primary Care
VA Northern California Health Care System
Martinez
,
CA
United States
As I let her know I needed help she sprang into action and really got the ball rolling. They always say that things in the government move slowly but not Heather and the VA team that she assembled.
I am 97 years old and have macular degeneration (one of my many health issues at this time). My vision has deteriorated to the point where it is very difficult for me to write my nomination. This is my story and my words, but I have asked a family member to type it for me.
First of all, let me thank you for giving me this opportunity to recognize and thank Heather for the most outstanding care and compassion that she has shown to me. She has made such a difference in my life and the quality of my life especially since January 2020. My association with Heather began prior to 2020, but I did not know her as a VA nurse until January 2020. For several years I have seen Heather volunteering at the Father’s House in Vacaville, CA. I have been utilizing these services every Saturday. Most of these Saturdays it was pretty much just friendly conversation between us, etc. In January 2020, my life changed. I took a fall at my home in Vacaville. I was taken by ambulance to Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, CA. I was hospi9talized for 3 days. (Since I retired from the US Army in 1974, I have been receiving most of my medical care at Travis). As a result of that fall in January, my major injuries included some broken vertebrae in my back. This was one of the worst injuries I have sustained that I can remember. I spent over 30 years in the U.S. Army entering before WWII. I was a paratrooper and a medic in WW II. During a jump, I suffered a broken wrist and temporary paralysis and was hospitalized for over thirty days, but this fall in January really set me back. Prior to this time, I have been living alone for over 10 years after the death of my wife. I was completely mobile, driving myself everywhere, shopping and cooking for myself, taking trips to visit my children, and pretty much doing everything myself. My eyesight was becoming my limitation, but I was still up and out the door every single day. When I came home from the Travis AFB hospital, I was now confronted with a whole series of questions and no answers. My discharge paperwork indicated I would need physical therapy and a home health assessment. My daughter who came to stay with me for a week tried to make contact with Travis to determine when these services would begin and who would provide them. We also tried to make follow-up appointments but did not have a lot of success finding out how this would occur. One of my daughter-in-law’s followed up, after my daughter had to return home to WA, and was still struggling to find the answers. My son was visiting one Saturday and drove me to the Father’s House. Heather took notice that something had happened and offered assistance if we needed some. At this point, I was thinking that my life would return to normal but that didn’t happen. I realized that I really had mobility and pain issues and wasn’t sure if I could stay in my home. Another week went by and at the next visit to Father’s House, I let Heather know that I could use some assistance. It seems like that as soon as I let her know I needed help she sprang into action and really got the ball rolling. They always say that things in the government move slowly but not Heather and the VA team that she assembled. Within just a short while, I had a VA home health team working with me. In addition to Heather as my nurse, I had a physician, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social worker, and a dietician coming to my home to assess my condition and provide assistance as needed. They were all aware that I wanted to remain in my home as long as possible and worked to guide their assistance to help me meet my goals. Prior to the VA home health team coming to my home I had been using “leftover” adaptive equipment like a shower chair, toilet chair, canes that were leftover from my wife’s use. With Heather’s assistance, I was able to get the appropriate toilet seat that worked for me and a walker that is more suited for me and my activities. She took care of organizing my medications and getting them on a home mail service, so I no longer had to worry about calling them in and then picking them up from Travis. Significantly she was able to recognize that my back injury required more diagnostic tests and a back brace. My family and I appreciated the home safety evaluation that was done so I could continue to stay in my home. Each member of the home health team was great and very supportive, but it would not have happened without Heather putting it all together for me. My family was much relieved to find Heather and the VA team helping me and being the point man for my medical care. I can honestly say that Heather knew I needed something or some help even before I realized it. I think I have been so independent all my life and just didn’t want to acknowledge I needed help. I am so pleased and proud to have Heather managing my home health care. She has made a big difference in the quality of my life. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty as we say in the Army. I have written many soldier evaluations during my 30 plus years in the Army, but I can truthfully say that Heather ranks at the very top of outstanding and professional people. She is a very special person and nurse and the VA is better because of her service.
First of all, let me thank you for giving me this opportunity to recognize and thank Heather for the most outstanding care and compassion that she has shown to me. She has made such a difference in my life and the quality of my life especially since January 2020. My association with Heather began prior to 2020, but I did not know her as a VA nurse until January 2020. For several years I have seen Heather volunteering at the Father’s House in Vacaville, CA. I have been utilizing these services every Saturday. Most of these Saturdays it was pretty much just friendly conversation between us, etc. In January 2020, my life changed. I took a fall at my home in Vacaville. I was taken by ambulance to Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, CA. I was hospi9talized for 3 days. (Since I retired from the US Army in 1974, I have been receiving most of my medical care at Travis). As a result of that fall in January, my major injuries included some broken vertebrae in my back. This was one of the worst injuries I have sustained that I can remember. I spent over 30 years in the U.S. Army entering before WWII. I was a paratrooper and a medic in WW II. During a jump, I suffered a broken wrist and temporary paralysis and was hospitalized for over thirty days, but this fall in January really set me back. Prior to this time, I have been living alone for over 10 years after the death of my wife. I was completely mobile, driving myself everywhere, shopping and cooking for myself, taking trips to visit my children, and pretty much doing everything myself. My eyesight was becoming my limitation, but I was still up and out the door every single day. When I came home from the Travis AFB hospital, I was now confronted with a whole series of questions and no answers. My discharge paperwork indicated I would need physical therapy and a home health assessment. My daughter who came to stay with me for a week tried to make contact with Travis to determine when these services would begin and who would provide them. We also tried to make follow-up appointments but did not have a lot of success finding out how this would occur. One of my daughter-in-law’s followed up, after my daughter had to return home to WA, and was still struggling to find the answers. My son was visiting one Saturday and drove me to the Father’s House. Heather took notice that something had happened and offered assistance if we needed some. At this point, I was thinking that my life would return to normal but that didn’t happen. I realized that I really had mobility and pain issues and wasn’t sure if I could stay in my home. Another week went by and at the next visit to Father’s House, I let Heather know that I could use some assistance. It seems like that as soon as I let her know I needed help she sprang into action and really got the ball rolling. They always say that things in the government move slowly but not Heather and the VA team that she assembled. Within just a short while, I had a VA home health team working with me. In addition to Heather as my nurse, I had a physician, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social worker, and a dietician coming to my home to assess my condition and provide assistance as needed. They were all aware that I wanted to remain in my home as long as possible and worked to guide their assistance to help me meet my goals. Prior to the VA home health team coming to my home I had been using “leftover” adaptive equipment like a shower chair, toilet chair, canes that were leftover from my wife’s use. With Heather’s assistance, I was able to get the appropriate toilet seat that worked for me and a walker that is more suited for me and my activities. She took care of organizing my medications and getting them on a home mail service, so I no longer had to worry about calling them in and then picking them up from Travis. Significantly she was able to recognize that my back injury required more diagnostic tests and a back brace. My family and I appreciated the home safety evaluation that was done so I could continue to stay in my home. Each member of the home health team was great and very supportive, but it would not have happened without Heather putting it all together for me. My family was much relieved to find Heather and the VA team helping me and being the point man for my medical care. I can honestly say that Heather knew I needed something or some help even before I realized it. I think I have been so independent all my life and just didn’t want to acknowledge I needed help. I am so pleased and proud to have Heather managing my home health care. She has made a big difference in the quality of my life. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty as we say in the Army. I have written many soldier evaluations during my 30 plus years in the Army, but I can truthfully say that Heather ranks at the very top of outstanding and professional people. She is a very special person and nurse and the VA is better because of her service.